##### 24.8.1.3 Preventing the first paragraph format from starting a topic

To prevent DITA2Go from forcing the first paragraph format in a file to become a topic start:

    [DITAOptions]
    ; ForceStartTopic = Yes (default, make the format of the first para a
    ;  topic start with tag "title" at level 1 and parent "topic"), or No.
    ForceStartTopic = No

If the first paragraph format in a file is not assigned DITA level 1, or is not implicitly or explicitly mapped to the <title> element:

- When ForceStartTopic=Yes, DITA2Go forces these settings, overriding any other mapping or level assignment; as a consequence, all subsequent paragraphs with the same format in the same file also start topics.
- When ForceStartTopic=No, DITA2Go allows the paragraph to produce invalid DITA.

Best practice is to use the default setting (ForceStartTopic=Yes), and make sure the first paragraph format in each file is mapped to title and assigned level 1.

Previous Topic: 24.8.1.2 Identifying the starting element for glossary topics

Next Topic: 24.8.2 Specifying the DITA topic type

Parent Topic: 24.8.1 Designating starting points for DITA topics

Sibling Topics:

24.8.1.1 Identifying starting elements for non-glossary topics

24.8.1.2 Identifying the starting element for glossary topics